Hands-on conservation
The best view you could ask for when taking a break for lunch, at Fyten Lea, AB (Photo by Taylor Glover/NCC Staff)
Conservation isn’t always a walk in the park. Some days, you’re trudging through mud, untangling old barbed-wire that’s long-outlived its purpose. Other days, you’re pulling stubborn invasive weeds, roots and all, or bushwhacking through dense forest in the rain, checking on natural areas to make sure they’re thriving. But no matter how tough it gets, knowing you’ve done your part stewarding this land makes it all worth it.
Each day in the field brings a sense of accomplishment — whether it’s removing barriers for wildlife or giving native plants a fighting chance against invasives, it all adds up. Spending so much time outdoors, I’ve also learned to notice the quiet beauty of Alberta’s native grasslands and forests; these are places where biodiversity still thrives. Even on the toughest days, that connection to the land keeps me motivated.
Removing perennial baby’s breath by hand, some of which were nearly 2 metres below ground (Photo by Taylor Glover/NCC Staff)
Beyond the hands-on work, one of the best parts of this summer working at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) was meeting people who share the same passion for conservation. Whether it was at workshops, volunteer events or leaseholder meetings, I had the chance to connect with others dedicated to protecting these landscapes. A real highlight was sitting down with conservation agreement landowners — families who’ve been on the land for generations. Hearing their stories and the history behind their properties added a whole new layer of meaning to the work we do. I also met people from other conservation organizations, and I’m hopeful our paths will cross again in the future.
One of the season’s highlights for me was getting involved with a dugout restoration project. I started by removing the rusted barbed-wire fence around the area, pulling out all the posts by hand since the ground was soft enough. Once the fence was out of the way, the land was contoured back into a shallow wetland. On a return visit, I saw that plants like wild mint had started to grow. Just before a batch of plant plugs were scheduled to be planted here, a herd of cows found their way onto the land somehow! To avoid any more mishaps, we installed wildlife-friendly fencing to keep the cows out while the new plants took root.
Fence and post removal at NCC’s Haynes property, near Pine Lake, AB (Photo by Taylor Glover/NCC Staff)
Later, I suggested that NCC do a collaborative volunteer event with my old college club, giving students the chance to help propagate willows and learn more about restoration processes. The day was fantastic, as we were able to get lots of willow staking done, and the students had a great experience and fun. It was exciting to see everything come together, knowing I played a part in making long-term improvements to the land.
What I’ve loved most about this work is knowing that it’s making a difference. Whether it’s removing invasive species, restoring wetlands or simply pulling out a fence, each small action adds up to creating long-term solutions that benefit wildlife and the ecosystem. I’m proud to have been a part of this, and I’m excited to come back in a few years and see how these areas have changed for the better. This experience has reinforced my passion for conservation, and I’m eager to continue working in this field.
There’s still so much work to do, and I’m ready for it.
About the Author
Taylor Glover was the conservation intern for the Nature Conservancy of Canada in the Red Deer region for 2024.
